• What is your teaching philosophy?

I have always put the students at the center of my teaching. A classroom is a place for both students AND teachers to grow and learn with one another. As a teacher, it is important to put student interests and ideas at the forefront of the classroom experience, otherwise, students may lose interest and passion for learning. It is also essential for the students to recognize that the teacher is there to help guide them into becoming better learners, NOT to be the all-knowing adult. Allowing students to recognize that they too can be teachers helps put them at the forefront of their learning, responsible for their own learning outcomes. It allows them to grow into forever learners, unafraid of asking questions, being wrong, or offering up their own expertise in any situation.

Furthermore, I believe myself to be a warm demander. This means that in my classroom, I hope to set high expectations for students while simultaneously creating a safe space for students to fail, and succeed, with each other and have the confidence to ask for help when they need it. This approach allows students to see themselves as capable learners, even in the face of difficulties and challenges.

• What is your teaching background, and what drew you to Le Sallay’s blended learning model?

I have a diverse teaching background spanning all levels of schooling and teaching positions. I have taught both kindergarteners and college students, been a substitute and classroom teacher, and tutored many subject areas and ages of students. Most recently I am coming from a kindergarten classroom, however, after teaching online during the pandemic, I realized the benefits of online learning, however complex.

With Le Sallay’s blended approach, I saw the potential to give students access to both the benefits of online and in-person learning. While in person, students and teachers can create a rapport that can then be carried over into the online platform. These sessions can also be used to allow students to showcase what they have learned through demonstrations, projects, and class debates or simulations. While online, students learn to be accountable for their own learning and timeline, giving them time management skills and the opportunity to direct their own learning at a pace and schedule that works for them. This also gives them the opportunity to peruse activities they are passionate about outside of school that may not be conducive to a “traditional” learning schedule.

• What is your favorite thing about teaching?

My favorite thing about teaching is experiencing little moments of learning with my students. For instance, when a student finally masters a skill they have been working on and then it just suddenly clicks for them. Or sharing a laugh over struggling through a problem, but knowing it's worth it for the learning outcome in the end. In acknowledging all the small achievements, I find I create a better relationship with my students, allowing them to become the best learner they can be while feeling able to be authentically themselves.

• What do you think are the biggest challenges in teaching history in middle school in our days?

I would say the biggest challenge is getting students to connect with the material in a meaningful way. For many tweens, looking beyond their own lives in the present is often a challenge. However, in the right classroom environment, I believe that if students are tasked with relating their everyday lives to past events, they can find an area of study that is not so outdated or out of style.

Another challenge I believe is moving away from the notion that history is something that is set in stone. Of course, there are dates and events, rather, big picture items that we can say, “yes, this is true.” However, I think it is important for both teachers and students to recognize the subjectivity of history and how it can be told from many different perspectives at many different times. This moves away from many people's traditional ideas about history, but by presenting history as a subjective area of study, we can challenge our students to think critically and beyond textbook-style history, allowing students to become more empathetic learners and world citizens.

• What were you like in middle school?

Oh, I was as studious as ever! I have always strived to be a learner and middle school was no different. That being said, I do know I got sucked into many of the middle school gossip circles and had crushes and passed notes in class. Yes, even the nerdiest among us pass notes or doodle during class! I was also very into lacrosse and ski racing, giving me a sense of community outside of school.

• Do you have any favorite stories from the classroom that you would like to share?

One of my favorite moments in my kindergarten class was when we found a dead spider on the wall and made it our class pet. As we were lining up for Health and Fitness, one of my students pointed out the said spider, asking if it was alive, and if it was would I kill it? I responded, no, that I would put it outside. She then asked me to check if it was alive because the same spider had been hanging there ALL YEAR. The class started giggling as I blew on the spinner, watching it limply swing from side to side. Yes, very much dead. The children then asked in a panic if I was going to get rid of it. I asked what they would rather have me do, and they said to leave it there. That the dead, mummified spider was somewhat of a class pet. We proceeded to have a heated discussion of what to name it, landing on the name Mr. Crawlie. The kids then asked me to make a sign for it so the janitors wouldn’t clean it up. I was more than happy to comply. Throughout the rest of the year, Mr. Crawlie went unnoticed by many, but for those who did, we would all share a collective laugh in telling the story to confused adults and siblings!

This story demonstrates the creativity of children and their imagination. One of my favorite things about teaching is seeing this type of passion bring children alive and create a classroom space where things can be light and funny, not all business.